Use of dronedarone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for the preparation of a drug for the prevention of atrial fibrillation

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of dronedarone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for the preparation of a drug for the prevention of atrial fibrillation wherein said use comprises the following precaution of use steps: a) initiating dronedarone administration in patients with atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter, b) performing electrocardiograms serially.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of preventing atrial fibrillation in a patient with a history of paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter, comprising:
 a) initiating dronedarone administration in said patient, and   b) performing electrocardiograms of said patient serially.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 c) discontinuing dronedarone administration if the patient develops permanent atrial fibrillation or if symptomatic atrial fibrillation reoccurs.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 c) discontinuing dronedarone administration or cardioverting said patient if atrial fibrillation is detected.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising preventing cardiovascular hospitalization. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising preventing hospitalization for atrial fibrillation. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said prevention of atrial fibrillation is maintenance of sinus rhythm. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said patient has non permanent atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said patient does not have permanent atrial fibrillation or flutter with additional cardiovascular risk factors. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said patient does not have permanent atrial fibrillation nor a history of, or current heart failure. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said patient does not have permanent atrial fibrillation nor symptomatic heart failure with recent decompensation requiring hospitalization. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said patient does not have permanent atrial fibrillation nor heart failure defined as NYHA class IV. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said patient does not have permanent atrial fibrillation nor left ventricular systolic dysfunction. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said patient does not have permanent atrial fibrillation, and wherein said permanent atrial fibrillation is defined by one or more of the following:
 a) atrial fibrillation duration greater than or equal to 6 months,   b) duration unknown, or   c) attempts to restore sinus rhythm are no longer considered by the physician.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said patient does not have permanent atrial fibrillation, and wherein said permanent atrial fibrillation is defined by patients in atrial fibrillation who will not or cannot be cardioverted into normal sinus rhythm. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein dronedarone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is taken twice a day with a meal. 
     
     
         16 . A method of risk management of patients developing permanent atrial fibrillation said patients being treated by dronedarone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, said method comprising:
 a) initiating dronedarone administration in patients with atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter, and   b) performing electrocardiograms of said patient serially.   
     
     
         17 . A method of reducing the risk of cardiovascular hospitalization for atrial fibrillation in a patient with a history of paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation comprising:
 d) administering dronedarone to said patient, and   e) performing electrocardiograms of said patient serially.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising
 c) discontinuing dronedarone administration or cardioverting said patient if atrial fibrillation is detected.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising preventing hospitalization for atrial fibrillation. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said patient does not have permanent atrial fibrillation or flutter with additional cardiovascular risk factors. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said patient does not have permanent atrial fibrillation and a history of, or current heart failure. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said patient does not have permanent atrial fibrillation and left ventricular systolic dysfunction. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the patient does not have permanent atrial fibrillation, and wherein said permanent atrial fibrillation is defined by one or more of the following:
 a) atrial fibrillation duration greater than or equal to 6 months,   b) duration unknown, or   c) attempts to restore sinus rhythm no longer considered by the physician.   
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the patient does not have permanent atrial fibrillation, and wherein said permanent atrial fibrillation is defined by patients in atrial fibrillation who will not or cannot be cardioverted into normal sinus rhythm. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein dronedarone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is taken twice a day with a meal.